AJ Holmes stars in "Young Frankenstein"

AJ Holmes (left) is having a blast starring as Dr. Frederick Frankenstein in the national tour of "Young Frankenstein." He and co-star Rory Donovan, who plays The Monster, recently performed their 100th show together. Paul Kolnik/Contributed photo

Paul Kolnik/Contributed photo To prepare for his run in "Young Frankenstein," AJ Holmes studied Gene Wilder's performance as Dr. Frankenstein in the original 1974 movie version. "You don't want to mimic another actor, but there are certain lines from the movie — like "What knockers!" — that the audience wants to hear exactly as they remember them," Holmes says.

Contributed photo AJ Holmes was 10 when he starred in "Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory" during a Gypsy Productions summer camp in Agoura Hills.

Paul Kolnik/Contributed photo Although AJ Holmes failed freshman ballet twice at the University of Michigan, he's handling the choreography just fine in "Young Frankenstein." "Whenever someone comes up to me after a show and compliments me on my dancing, I think 'Ha ha, Michigan! Ha ha!'"

Contributed photo As a seniors at Agoura High School in 2007, AJ Holmes (right) teamed up with fellow students Brian Felber (left) and Ethan Kuperberg to write and film a full-length movie musical called "Doppelgänger." The film sold out its screening at the Westlake Village Twin and can still be seen on YouTube.

Paul Kolnik/Contributed photo AJ Holmes (third from right) landed the role of Dr. Frankenstein last May just as he was graduating from the University of Michigan. "Doing this show is like going to musical theater graduate school," Holmes says.